TOKYO, March 21 (Xinhuanet) -- Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said Monday that Japan will introduce a missile defense system and deploy antiterrorism troops to better respond to new threats.

    "With the great challenges posed by new threats such as terrorism and ballistic missiles, we must improve our defense capabilities to respond efficiently to situations," Koizumi said in an address to new graduates at the country's National Defense Academy in his hometown Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture.

    The premier also emphasized the importance of civilian control,saying, "Senior officials in charge of defense matters in a democratic country must uphold the spirit to defend democracy and have high morals," according to Kyodo News.

    Meanwhile, Defense Agency Director General Yoshinori Ono emphasized the significance of the Self-Defense Forces' contributions overseas, citing the humanitarian aid mission to war-ravaged Iraq and emergency disaster relief in tsunami-affected nations around the Indian Ocean.

    "The SDF's activities inside and outside Japan are welcomed by the public and are giving a positive impression. The 'soft power' arouses empathy from the local people of the various countries," Ono was quoted as saying.

    According to Kyodo, of the 337 graduates, 29 were female and 12were foreign students from countries such as Thailand, South Koreaand Indonesia.

    Twenty-two graduates declined to be commissioned as SDF officers, bringing the number enrolling as officers to a record low of 303. Meanwhile, a record high of 132 cadets had quit duringthe course. Enditem